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US demands air passengers ask its permission to fly

If you’re not on the list, you’re not getting on

By Wendy M. Grossman ? More by this author

Published Friday 12th October 2007 13:18 GMT

Under new rules proposed by the Transport Security Administration (TSA) (pdf), all airline passengers would need advance permission before flying into, through, or over the United States regardless of citizenship or the airline’s national origin.

Currently, the Advanced Passenger Information System, operated by the Customs and Border Patrol, requires airlines to forward a list of passenger information no later than 15 minutes before flights from the US take off (international flights bound for the US have until 15 minutes after take-off). Planes are diverted if a passenger on board is on the no-fly list.

The new rules mean this information must be submitted 72 hours before departure. Only those given clearance will get a boarding pass. The TSA estimates that 90 to 93 per cent of all travel reservations are final by then.

The proposed rules require the following information for each passenger: full name, sex, date of birth, and redress number (assigned to passengers who use the Travel Redress Inquiry Program because they have been mistakenly placed on the no-fly list), and known traveller number (once there is a programme in place for registering known travellers whose backgrounds have been checked). Non-travellers entering secure areas, such as parents escorting children, will also need clearance.

The TSA held a public hearing in Washington DC on 20 September, which heard comments from both privacy advocates and airline industry representatives from Qantas, the Regional Airline Association, IATA, and the American Society of Travel Agents. The privacy advocates came from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Identity Project. All were negative.

The proposals should be withdrawn entirely, argued Edward Hasbrouck, author of The Practical Nomad and the leading expert on travel data privacy. “Obscured by the euphemistic language of ’screening’ is the fact that travellers would be required to get permission before they can travel.”

Hasbrouck submitted that requiring clearance in order to travel violates the US First Amendment right of assembly, the central claim in John Gilmore’s case against the US government over the requirement to show photo ID for domestic travel.

In addition, the TSA is required to study the impact of the proposals on small economic entities (such as sole traders). Finally, the TSA provides no way for individuals to tell whether their government-issued ID is actually required by law, opening the way for rampant identity theft.

ACLU’s Barry Steinhardt quoted press reports of 500,000 to 750,000 people on the watch list (of which the no-fly list is a subset). “If there are that many terrorists in the US, we’d all be dead.”

TSA representative Kip Hawley noted that the list has been carefully investigated and halved over the last year. “Half of grossly bloated is still bloated,” Steinhardt replied.

The airline industry representatives’ objections were largely logistical. They argued that the 60-day timeframe the TSA proposes to allow for implementation from the publication date of the final rules is much too short. They want a year to revamp many IT systems, especially, as the Qantas representative said, as no one will start until they’re sure there will be no further changes.

In addition, many were concerned about the impact on new, convenient and cash-saving technologies, such as checking in at home, or storing a boarding pass in a PDA.

One additional point, also raised by Hasbrouck: the data the TSA requires will be collected by the airlines who presumably will keep it for their own purposes – a “government-coerced informational windfall”, he called it.

The third parties who actually do much of the airline industry’s data processing, the Global Distribution Systems and Computer Reservations Systems, were missing from the hearing. ®

**Taken from http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/10/12/flying_into_data_hell**

How fucked up is that!? The more government control we have to suffer just trying to comply with the government the more hassle it gets the less fun the travel gets and they are slowly killing the one of the transportion sector which is the airport.

US Government, you need to really think this through, will it help the world enomony ? No ? Of course you are going to kill the airline industry and the tourism! Therefore, you need to chill out! Take some prozac for crying out loud!

I know I haven’t posted anything for past few months because in July I was busy preparing for Justin & Loree Drawbaugh’s wedding which was held on July 29th, 2007 where I was serving as the best man for their wedding,  So Congrats to Justin & Loree!  August was the busy month for me as well because I have been working so many hours and family businesses to take care of as well as I have been hunting for the apartment.   Now since I have you up to the speed, I will have a new post coming up shortly after this one.

“My Fellow Americans” statement is used by many Presidents in their speeches to the Americans in various of topics that we hear or face in the daily basis.  President Bush have heard us loud and clear that we wanted the payback from the 9/11 attack and we went to Afghan to seek and capture Obama bin Laden which we are failing miserably so President Bush have decided to invade Iraq since he claimed that Iraq was supporting Al-Qadea organization as well as they were developing the Weapons of Mass Destructions where there was no evidence of WMDs to be found in anywhere in Iraq.  Almost 4 years into the war, we are struggling to hold our ground at Iraq and the Americans have spoken repeatedly to retreat Iraq and bring our soldiers home however the President did not hear our cry and constantly urging us to be patient even though that the President have confessed that we are losing the war at Iraq.  So he have decided to execute the troop surge to Iraq which it is not working at all and it have angered the Americans and have spoken against the surge and the President have went ahead and executed the surge to Iraq and now we have witnessed the horrible results of the surge and Bush tells us to be patient and give it time for the surge to work and it is nearly 6 months after the surge and it is failing!  Do you think the White House is listening to the Americans when it comes to the Iraq War ? I don’t think so.  A strong leader should listen to the concerns of Americans, have gained the respect of the Americans, looks out the best interests of the Americans and protects them while he is listing the respect of Americans, being deaf to the Americans cry, and endangering the country to possible terrorist attacks (I sure hope it won’t happen.).  What do United States needs ?  We need a leader that listens to the Americans where the democracy is all about!

As the projected population will be at 60 million people living in California by the year 2050 which worries the transportion authorities because they know that the roads and highways won’t have enough capacity to handle the large number of population. We have been widening our freeways for decades and it is not yet giving any reliefs as the delays on the road have been increasing dramatically. So therefore, some of the city council people in Los Angeles are calling for a study for the proposed rail and subways. However, I am against to those proposed rail and subways since we already have the railways around the county and its not being fully utilized as the commuters are using their own personal automobiles as the primary transportion choice since the mass transportion does not take us to the places within the reasonable time frame as I have been hearing the complainments about the bus ride time can easily rack up as much as 3 hours for a mere 20 mile drive via personal automobile while it takes up nearly 40 miles by bus because the bus system does not have the effective and direct route system where you can do with a personal automobile where it will only take between 30 minutes to a hour depending on the traffic conditions.

In order to really to show the reduce in the traffic congestion is to institute the new ride-share program with the potential large employers to encourage their employees to take up the light rail from the major point to another major point (i.e Los Angeles to Santa Ana/Anaheim or Los Angeles to Riverside/Pomona) as it will remove a fairly large numbers of cars off from the traffic grid as the problem lays that many motorists drive more than 15 miles per way from home to their work site. Also, restrict the freight truck traffic flow as it is also the factor to the overly congested traffic grids and encourage the freight trucks to be driven during the off peak hours to allow the traffic infrastructure to fully utilize the commuters as the Times Magazine shows the study of the freight trucks have taken up as much as 40% of the traffic infrastructure capacity! So instead of the excessive trucking, encourage the use of the heavy rail for the freight transportion where it will lower the number of trucks on the roads by giving some kind of tax credits to the industries that are opting for the heavy rail instead of trucking as well as the large employers that institutes the improved ride-share program. That would save taxpayers from paying excessive waste of money in billions of dollars as well as floating the bonds could be prevented for those unnecessary freeway widening once you tackle the source of the problem!

Original purpose for US went on to invade Iraq was to capture Saddam from torturing his own people. Now he have been removed from the power and executed by the Iraqis where the President claimed as the Mission Accomplished in 2003. However, as of today, US is still struggling to hold its fortress at Iraq as the new Iraqi Government is attempting to establish its own government as the US military expenses and causalities continues to rack up like there’s no tomorrow! Several years after the capture of Saddam and the war is still raging on and many of our proud US soldiers are constantly getting killed for what ? Oil ? Iraqi people ? As I recall that President Bush’s father, elder Bush went on to Gulf war because he claimed that Saddam was torturing Kuwait while back in the 1980s US and Iraq were the best friends now we are stabbing against each other’s backs ? It just doesn’t make no sense to me. Then in Clinton’s administration, he didn’t maintain any invasion or warfare in Iraq or its surroundings until the young Bush came by and had the balls to link Iraq to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) during the post 9/11 era where the only evidence we found was the cracked bomb shell from the 1980s Iran-Iraq War. Then he decided to link Iraq to the al-Qadea organization few years after we have captured Saddam…it just doesn’t make any sense and what up with the Warrant less Wiretapping ? President Bush, are you trying to be like Nixon and dude he got trouble for doing that and Mr. President, you are violating many laws such as Treason, murder of US soldiers (killed at Iraq for no reason), violating 1st amendment with the warrantless wiretapping along the violation of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. As the aides of the White House are resigning and the USS Bush is sinking as the rats are bailing out as the continued shake up at the White House where its first started with Colin Powell as the Secretary of the State and even the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfield, resigned. The chief at Department of Homeland Security got resigned and replaced as well and not at least the shake up in the Attorney General Gonzales where he knew that President Bush was violating various of laws! What up with this pattern, Mr. President are you hiding something from the Americans and we are bound to find it!

As of the right now, the polls in American’s opposition to the Iraq War is at all time-high and Bush’s poll is at all time low. We are stuck at funding the wars from our tax dollars for those wars we do not support while the domestic programs desperately needs those money but the war money is wasted in a nanosecond! Are you trying to retrace the Vietnam war ? Or are you trying to win the award as the US most worst President ? It will look better if we have you tried for the impeachment!

Mr. President, all due with respect, when you swore in, your original role as the President as defined in US Constitution is to execute the laws and make sure its carried out but you are breaking them off as well as failure to comply and obey and protect the Constitution and its laws, so you are calling yourself as the President!? Step up as a man, accept that we lost at Iraq and let the oil go and bring our soldiers home!  Stop asking for more time as you have been asking for “more time” for last 4 years!  So Time is up!  An american have spoken!

Frontline LTD (FRO) is going to make you some serious money as it pays out ultra-high dividends as it yields at 12.80% at the market close on 07/05/2007.

I found this stock when my friend, who is also into the investing stock market, and I were screening for stock then found this stock because we were seeking in generating the cash flow from the dividends so we decided to buy that stock and we have earned very impressive returns including a spin off:

• Dividends
  • 1st Quarter 2007: $433 invested at 12.5 shares, $25.56 dividend reinvested at $2.05 per share payout
  • 2nd Quarter 2007: $1810 invested at 50.4 shares, $75.64 dividend reinvested at $1.50 per share payout
• Spinoff
  • Received 1.3 shares of SPF at no purchase cost during the 1st Quarter 2007

Jim Cramer and other stock analysts gave this stock thumbs down and I am sure very glad that I did not listen to those guys because I have recieved some serious cash for small amount of money invested! As one financial advisor predicts that this stock can go as high as $55 per share along with its high dividend payout so it seems possible to happen. Buy it while its hot!

In July 4th, 1776, we have delcared the independence from the England during the revolvutionary war. 231 years later, we are still going strong and thriving, we come together to remember this day when our soldiers were/are fighting to protect our freedoms and remember the forefathers founded this country to be free!  There are some good insights about the independence day that are posted by Steve Imparl.

Happy Birthday, America!

 

Starbucks (SBUX) might have found its ground to be able to hold its stocks after the recent earning release announcement that have sent the investors running in horror.  Right now, SBUX is undervalued where it is closed at $26.05 and the actual value of the stock is at $28.35 which allows us to bring more bang in our money which it will lead to greater return.  Starbucks have been reporting the ever-growing same-store sales over last year because the popularity of their beverages is becoming more popular and also they have begun selling various of products like CDs, books and etc.  The analysts estimates that the earnings growth rate will be approximately 17.00% and the sales growth rate at approximately 20.00% which are very good figures if SBUX manages to hit or exceed that projected target.

 Go buy them, go get them while its hot just like a hot expresso!

As of last week there was a press release from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) that wants to institute the congestion charge for driving to/from the City of Los Angeles during the busiest hour to give the relief in traffic. More toll road with very very limited alternative means of transportion ? What the hell are you thinking MTA!? Amtrak or Metrolink does not go everywhere we the commuters needs to go in Los Angeles but is forced to take the bus where it is already overflowing with passengers ? Since Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is owned and operated by the City of Los Angeles so they are not planning to exempt LAX from the toll charges so they can collect the tolls for LAX and fund for its future transportion projects which I have a very strong doubt about it since MTA have been crying that they are broke while they are decent amount of money from the fares. As well as the Californians have spoken and voted to pass the traffic relief improvement bill in the 2006 state election but yet the mass transit is crying like they have no money eh ? I don’t buy it and the executive board people ought to slash their own salary down by 50% if MTA is really broke otherwise, the organization does have the money.

Since the trains or buses that are going to the airport are too long for many of us who lives 30 or more miles away from the airport plus the 2 hours early arrival time before the flight departure time.  So the only choices we have is to drive ourselves to the airport and pay the toll where’s there’s no options unless you call the airport shuttle to pick you up with the possibility that you will be also paying the toll that is probably increased fare charge where its being included.

You dudes in MTA board, what you are considering its not helping unless you start expanding your routes!!! You better get your a$$es together or the people will call to overhaul the management eventually!

While we are busy saving many of the land animals with few sea animals in the endangered species list, which can be a good thing but we are forgetting one most important thing ?  The Sea life, yes you heard me the sea life but you probably will be thinking what about the sea life, we are protecting dolphins and whales too.  Yes, we do protect the sea animals but it is not enough because this article talks about the almost completely disappearance of staghorn coral off  from the florida coast and the 75% disappearance of the Kelp forest in Ocean where it serves as the habitat for many fishes as well as food for some fishes which causes a big drop in oxygen level since the kelp takes in the carbon dixodie just like the rainforests.  There is also the increase in the whales being beached in Western United States because it was being sick or poisoned in the heavily polluted waters.

 Global Warming and the increased offshore oil drilling are also affecting the life in Ocean because the ocean temperture and the pollution are raising at the alarming rate, so that’s few of many things we can save our ocean is by limiting the CO2 emissions, writing an letter to your Congressperson or Senator and tell them not to authorize any more offshore drilling which it disturbs the ecosystem in the ocean, and don’t dump any chemicals in the storm drain because here in california most of our storm drains leads to ocean so the animals in ocean will consume what you dump in so think twice!

You can learn more how the ocean makes its impact here in this planet by going to http://www.thankyouocean.org where this article tells us that it is much more  than just water and fishes.  Save our ocean please as it gives us our precious oxygen for us so we should return the favor back to the ocean.

**Video Courtsey of thankyouocean.org**